BCC to host regional NCReady4Work Learning Summit

DUBLIN — On Thursday, Bladen Community College will host a regional NCReady4Work Learning Summit sponsored by the North Carolina Community College System.

The meeting will include the presidents and other officials of Bladen Community College, Sampson Community College and Southeastern Community College, as well as Scott Ralls, NCCS president. Other participants include legislators representing the area, and local officials.

The meeting will be held in the auditorium beginning at 8:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

The learning summit is one in a series of regional meetings around the state to gather information on how community colleges can better serve the workforce development needs of the communities they serve.

The state’s workforce plays a key role in the location, retention and global competitiveness of businesses in 2014 and the regional meetings are the first step in launching a strategic planning initiative focused on ensuring North Carolina’s workforce is number one in the nation.

The state’s community colleges are designated in North Carolina General Statutes as, “… the primary lead agency for delivering workforce development training …”

However, workforce efforts in the state involve many partners. In an effort to integrate these partners into NCReady4Work, NCCS is convening community colleges and workforce partners for this series of learning summits. The discussion in the summits will focus on best practices and challenges as well as identifying strategies to bring North Carolina’s workforce development into alignment, resulting in increased responsiveness, better engagement and ultimately greater accountability to stakeholders.

Commenting on the summit, BCC President William Findt said, “The importance of North Carolina’s community colleges has never been as critical as it is at the present time. The State’s investment in the college’s workforce programs will ensure that community colleges are able to train students for jobs that are available now and in the future.”